Haitians a Champion for the Caribbean at Large Again!

Friday, February 26, 2010
By Alicia M. Phidd, Esq.




TAMPA, FLORIDA- It was only a few weeks ago my Pastor told us about the acronym W.E.L. What is that you ask? It means “Will Explain Later”. In that, sometimes you cannot explain in the immediate the reason something occurs and at that moment do not question it. Just wait. The answer will appear later. I had a W.E.L. moment in covering this story. Typically, I write on a story immediately after observation, but the Haitian Memorial and coverage of the Ambassador was a little different.

I did not want to report on this heart wrenching story in a heart wrenching manner. We know the story and it has been told in many different ways on major news media outlet such as CNN, Times, Tampa Tribune etc. I knew I wanted to do more than reporting and every time I sat down to pen this story to paper, or computer as is the case, my brain was bored until, earlier this week. My W.E.L. moment occurred at the United Negro College Fund’s Annual Luncheon in Tampa, Florida. The keynote speaker was Tampa’s own Mayor Pam Iorio. How is this related to the Haitian Memorial and Ambassadeur Raymond Joseph’s visit? Well, she gave her family history. In that her father was an immigrant from Italy. She is a first generation immigrant. She told of her father’s drive to achieve and succeed in this country from speaking very little English to becoming a professor. She shared that the Fannie Lou story was one of her women’s uplifting historical moment that keeps her going.

Again, what does that have to do with the tragedy in Haiti? Everything! It draws a nexus between Tampa’s Mayor and the immigrants and their descendants’ here in Tampa. In Tampa, the Caribbean population is dispersed but in St. Petersburg, Florida, there are more concentrated. Due to this fact, the local government in St. Pete was always aware of the issues affecting their immigrant community namely the Haitians and the Russians. Mayor Bill Foster at the press conference on Thursday, February 18, 2010 regarded the press conference of Ambassadeur Raymond Joseph as a “tragic but civic occasion.” Mayor Foster further appointed two emissaries to Haiti. The appointees prior to the appointments had established relationships in place with the Haitian community.

The Ambassadeur’s visit to the Tampa Bay area to attend the memorials would not have been possible without the planning efforts of Sanya Grandchamp of Mango Network, the alliance of all the Caribbean Organizations in Tampa and friends of the Caribbean. For weeks this coalition worked tirelessly with the American Red Cross to raise funds for Haiti.

The Ambassadeur is certainly a man we should all get the opportunity to meet and converse. He is genuine and has an undying love for his country, their people and overall friendships. I went to interview him and ask just a couple of questions, “what are we doing to give a semblance of normalcy to the students?” “Are we able to hold school for at least a couple of hours daily?” His faced immediately expressed the sadness of what he had to espouse which is, we [Haiti] are not there yet. The extreme sadness was explained unwittingly a little later when he was gifted a book by the Carver G. Woodson Museum. His thank you speech repeated an answer to an earlier private question, in that if he had a wand, he would fix the educational system in Haiti. This man loves education and education of young people.

Ambassadeur Joseph always take the time when being interviewed or in giving a speech, whether he is on CNN or in a small gathering to remind the listeners of the part Haiti played in assisting in the Louisiana purchase and that they are the first freed Black Republic. This is seminal. The unfortunate tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti brought attention to the Haitian immigrant population across the world and to the Caribbeans here in Tampa. The international community has risen and will continue to rise to the challenge to assist Haiti to become self sustaining after the earthquake.

Here in Tampa, we have offered our hospitals, citizens and resources to the victims of this natural disaster. However, the big picture is that the Caribbeans at large, English speaking, Dutch Speaking, Spanish Speaking and French to name a few showed their numbers in Tampa. This number will be further counted as we approach March, census month. Both Mayor Iorio and Mayor Foster have gone above and beyond the call of their office to reach out to the Haitian community in this tragedy. Each donated their land space for the memorials and honored those grieving with their presence.

Reverend Gerly Germain of the Bethanie Seventh-day Adventist Haitian Church of Tampa, gave a tribute at the Tampa Haitian Memorial. It was so touching because he lost his father in the earthquake. His father survived the initial earthquake but on his way to pick up his wife, a building succumbed to the earthquake and fell on his SUV. Reverend Germain’s church has shipped hundreds of thousands of food and tents to the Haiti. However, your assistance is still needed to send more food and tents. Tents especially are in great demand as rainy season is upon them. You may contact Reverend Germain to donate food and tents at (813) 802-2808.
It took a tragedy and humanity to pull the dispersed Caribbean community out of their neighborhoods to the focus point of civic need and I hope they continue to show their support for all causes in Tampa Bay and show their numbers because Haiti’s motto is so apropos and should be the Caribbean’s motto…… “In Unity There is Strength.”!

The photos for this event are posted on facebook on the Alicia Marie Phidd Radio Show Page. Please read the other blogs posted at www.aliciaphidd.blogspot.com
Alicia M. Phidd, M.P.S.,J.D. received her B.Sc. in Chemistry and Masters in Environmental Studies from S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook in New York and Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law in Florida. She currently practices Business Law and Immigration Law in Tampa, Florida. In addition, she has taught law at Barry University, graduate school; University of Phoenix, undergraduate business school and Broward Community College. She can be reached through her website www.aliciaphidd.com and Follow her at www.twitter.com/phidd All copyrights reserved. © 2010